Arts+Culture Articles from Christian Centuryhttp://www.christiancentury.org/section/13/feed/28001%2C28002%2C27861
enHoly lionhttp://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-07/holy-lion
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p class="p1">I’ve been reading the Chronicles of Narnia<i>&nbsp;</i>to my daughter at bedtime. As a kid I only read as far as&nbsp;<i>The</i>&nbsp;<i>Voyage of the Dawn Treader</i>; the endless shelf of Babysitter’s Club books distracted me from the Narnians. We’re on&nbsp;<i>The</i>&nbsp;<i>Silver Chair</i>&nbsp;now, and while I’m still not sure about that&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Pole">Jill Pole</a>, I continue to marvel at C. S. Lewis’s masterful Christian allegories.</p><p class="p1">I’ve always loved Aslan, but I am newly convinced that the lion really does capture the essence of Christ.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-07/holy-lion" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-07/holy-lion#commentsaslancecilnarniatrophy huntingThu, 30 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Katherine Willis Pershey31530 at http://www.christiancentury.orgOnline fellowshiphttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/online-fellowship
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>"Anyone for Assault on the Ringwraith's Lair?" types Kam. The fellowship he forms may include old or young, male or female, Jew or Greek.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/online-fellowship" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/online-fellowship#commentsChristian formationfellowshipgamersgamesMon, 27 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000David Keck31383 at http://www.christiancentury.orgFeelings and faithhttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/feelings-and-faith
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>As I watched <i>Inside Out</i>, I found myself thinking about Augustine's assertion that we are what we love and what we hate.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/feelings-and-faith" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/feelings-and-faith#commentsAugustineemotionsinside outmemoryreligious emotionWed, 22 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Kathryn Reklis31392 at http://www.christiancentury.orgSplitting an Order, by Ted Kooserhttp://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-07/splitting-order-ted-kooser
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Simple, measured, and settled, the poems in Ted Kooser's new collection were composed by an artist with nothing further to prove.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-07/splitting-order-ted-kooser" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-07/splitting-order-ted-kooser#commentsmidwestpoetryted kooserWed, 22 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Jeffrey Johnson31395 at http://www.christiancentury.orgFriendly enemieshttp://www.christiancentury.org/news/century-marks/friendly-enemies
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>On the day the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal, Iowans Bob Vander Plaats and Donna Red Wing had a chance meeting and hugged one another—even though they are culture warriors on opposite sides of the same-sex marriage debate. Vander Plaats heads Family Leader, which supports traditional marriage; he believes Red Wing’s lesbian marriage is unnatural. Red Wing, head of One Iowa, an LGBT rights group, has called Vander Plaats “bigoted” and “cruel.” But a few years ago, at Red Wing’s initiative, the two met for coffee and struck up a friendship. Since then they have been trying to soften the rhetoric of their organizations while still sticking to their principles (<em>Washington Post</em>, July 4).</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
Thu, 16 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Diane Tinsley31351 at http://www.christiancentury.orgE. E. Cummings: Complete Poems, 1904–1962&nbsp;and The Collected Poems of James Laughlinhttp://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-07/e-e-cummings-complete-poems-edited-george-james-firmage-and-collected-poems-james-la
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>E. E. Cummings and James Laughlin didn’t write with metaphysical or philosophical ambition. But that doesn’t mean their poetry doesn’t matter.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-07/e-e-cummings-complete-poems-edited-george-james-firmage-and-collected-poems-james-la" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-07/e-e-cummings-complete-poems-edited-george-james-firmage-and-collected-poems-james-la#commentse. e. cummingsjames laughlinpoetryFri, 10 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Jon M. Sweeney31268 at http://www.christiancentury.orgAre comedians the political vanguard?http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-07/are-comedians-political-vanguard
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p class="p1">Last month,&nbsp;<i>The Atlantic&nbsp;</i>published an online piece by staff writer Megan Garber, “How Comedians Became Public Intellectuals.” The article documented how comedy today in both its standup and situational genres is expanding beyond its minutiae focus of the 1990s in favor of a harder-hitting, message-based style evident in the work of Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Amy Schumer.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-07/are-comedians-political-vanguard" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-07/are-comedians-political-vanguard#commentsAmy Schumercomedyjon stewartnorman learstandup comedyWed, 08 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000L. Benjamin Rolsky31301 at http://www.christiancentury.orgBreaking the codeshttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/breaking-codes
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Of all the violence on <em>Game of Thrones</em>, one scene from the fifth season stands out in public opinion as particularly horrific.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/breaking-codes" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-07/breaking-codes#commentsGame of Thronesrapesexual violenceMon, 06 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Beth Felker Jones31271 at http://www.christiancentury.orgInstrument of peacehttp://www.christiancentury.org/news/century-marks/instrument-peace
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>As an act of resisting the violence in Iraq, Karim Wasfi has been playing his cello at the site of bomb explosions across Baghdad. Wasfi, conductor of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra, says that “the other side chose to turn . . . every aspect of life in Iraq into a battle and into a war zone. I chose to turn every corner of Iraq into a spot for civility, beauty, and compassion.” A deadly explosion in his own upscale neighborhood nearly killed him. Videos of Wasfi playing in the rubble left by bombings can be seen on YouTube (NPR, June 8).</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
Wed, 01 Jul 2015 05:00:00 +0000Diane Tinsley31227 at http://www.christiancentury.orgThree photographs by Eric Mencherhttp://www.christiancentury.org/artsculture/on-art/three-photographs-eric-mencher
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p><em>In Honor of the Cuban People, Who Have a Generous and Warm Spirit and Who Make Music That Moves the Soul (Havana, 1997)</em></p><p><em></em><em>String Theory/Parallel Lines</em></p><p><em></em><em>In Accord</em></p><p>If those who sing pray twice, perhaps creators of artwork about music pray thrice. Eric Mencher’s works are photographic explorations that often create a sense of sacred space. “I’m definitely attracted to Latino culture, history, and life. In Guatemala, there is an amazing confluence of Maya, Catholic, and evangelical traditions. It is vibrant and colorful and sometimes somber, but always energetic. I hope that my photos are true to the people, speak to the specific, but resonate with those from many different worlds.”</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
Mon, 29 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Lil Copan31146 at http://www.christiancentury.orgSomething Rich and Strange, by Ron Rashhttp://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-06/something-rich-and-strange-ron-rash
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Ron Rash’s stories emerge from the Smoky Mountains, where his protagonists often reach for a mystery beyond their own understanding.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-06/something-rich-and-strange-ron-rash" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-06/something-rich-and-strange-ron-rash#commentsfictionmoral complexitynorth carolinashort storiesTennesseeThu, 25 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Amy Frykholm31143 at http://www.christiancentury.orgCountering the darknesshttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/countering-darkness
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>“I am fascinated by the war between what is best in our natures and what is worst.”</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/countering-darkness" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/countering-darkness#commentsfictionhuman naturewonderThu, 25 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Amy Frykholm31116 at http://www.christiancentury.orgPublic intimacyhttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/public-intimacy
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>U2's subway prank created a strange sort of intimacy and spontaneous community. I felt a similar dynamic at play at a recent funeral.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/public-intimacy" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/public-intimacy#commentsfuneralsJimmy FallonsacramentsU2Tue, 23 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Jason Byassee31144 at http://www.christiancentury.orgWhen Joy gets complicatedhttp://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-06/when-joy-gets-complicated
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Sometimes it’s the child’s job to let go of old memories in order to make room for the new. Our task is to hold the old ones and to remind her that she was young once.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-06/when-joy-gets-complicated" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/blogs/archive/2015-06/when-joy-gets-complicated#commentsemotionsinside outparentingpixarTue, 23 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Lee Hull Moses31168 at http://www.christiancentury.orgLove and losshttp://www.christiancentury.org/news/century-marks/love-and-loss
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Danielle Snyderman, a geriatrician, says it isn’t possible to work successfully with an elderly patient without knowing about that person’s relationship with his or her spouse. This awareness led her to start collecting stories about the love lives of the couples she was working with. These stories are “packed with humor, history, wisdom, and grace. Who wouldn’t feel better after bearing witness to love that has weathered child-rearing, war, poverty, financial success, and physical decline?” Couples have difficulty addressing one question: “How do you anticipate a time without each other?” (<em>Philadelphia Inquirer</em>, June 14).</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
Thu, 18 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Diane Tinsley31106 at http://www.christiancentury.orgFunny girlshttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/funny-girls
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Watching <em>Inside Amy Schumer</em> or <em>Broad City</em>, you might conclude that sex is all young women think about. There is something refreshing about this.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/funny-girls" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-06/funny-girls#commentsAmy PoehlerAmy SchumerBroad Citycomedygender dynamicsgirlslena dunhamMindy Kalingromantic relationshipsyoung womenMon, 08 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Kathryn Reklis31011 at http://www.christiancentury.orgPocket poetryhttp://www.christiancentury.org/news/century-marks/pocket-poetry
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Win Bassett discovered that many of the patients in the state-run hospital where he was working as a student chaplain were very familiar with hymns. Hymns were the most effective way of consoling these patients’ souls. They responded positively to poetry as well, even though they didn’t know the poems he carried in his pocket. “I chalk up these powers to poetry’s economy of words,” Bassett writes. “When you know you don’t have much longer in this life, why not make every word you speak and hear pack as much meaning as possible?” (Poetry Foundation, May 27).</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
Thu, 04 Jun 2015 05:00:00 +0000Diane Tinsley30970 at http://www.christiancentury.orgPolicing and racehttp://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-05/policing-and-race
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p><em>Scandal</em> and <em>New Girl</em> are not ordinarily “about” race. But as national conversations on police violence intensify, they’ve stepped into the discussion.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-05/policing-and-race" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2015-05/policing-and-race#commentsKerry WashingtonLamorne Morrispolice shootingraceracial justicescandaltelevisionThe New GirlWed, 27 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000Beth Felker Jones30883 at http://www.christiancentury.orgRich get richerhttp://www.christiancentury.org/news/century-marks/rich-get-richer
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>After Stephen Schwarzman, Yale alumnus and billionaire CEO of a private equity firm, gave $150 million to Yale for a performing arts center, Dylan Matthews questioned whether this was a good use of the donor’s wealth. Yale is not a charity, and more than half of its students come from very wealthy families. Its endowment is second only to Harvard’s. Schwarzman could have given that money for malaria nets in sub-Saharan Africa or to efforts to deworm children—acts that would save and enhance the lives of truly needy people (<em>Vox</em>, May 12).</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
Thu, 21 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000Diane Tinsley30844 at http://www.christiancentury.orgPenelope Fitzgerald, by Hermione Leehttp://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-05/penelope-fitzgerald-hermione-lee
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-teaser">
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd field-item-first">
<p>Penelope Fitzgerald wrote her first novel at 60 and became famous at 80. "How does she do it?" asked A. S. Byatt. Hermione Lee tries to answer.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-05/penelope-fitzgerald-hermione-lee" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://www.christiancentury.org/reviews/2015-05/penelope-fitzgerald-hermione-lee#commentsbiographynovelsPenelope FitzgeraldThu, 21 May 2015 05:00:00 +0000Lawrence Wood30756 at http://www.christiancentury.org